Samsung unveils new 8-core mobile processor

via assets.sbnation.com

Just as other chip manufacturers have done at CES, Samsung revealed their new Exynos 5, an 8-core mobile processor which keeps in mind ARM’s big.little reference design. It pairs four larger and more power hungry Cortex A15s with four smaller, energy efficient Cortex A7s. This should allow an increase of up to 70% according to ARM, which will help as devices screens are becoming larger and larger, and more demanding applications and games are being developed. Exynos 5 should allow for substantially more powerful devices, even more so than the already powerful the Nexus 10 which has a processor with a dual-core A15 implementation. The Exynos 5 is also being built on a 28nm process as compared to the 32nm process for the Exynos 5 Dual and the Exynos 4 which should also add to the power saving ability of this chip.

big.LITTLE Processing Image

Sources: ARM, Android Central, The Verge, AnandTech

Cyanogen 7.2 leaves RC Stage, Brings 20 new devices with it.

This month CyanogenMod left its release canidate stage and became a fully fledged release. Marking the end of support for gingerbread on for certain hardware as the focus now turns to CyanogenMod 9

Continue reading →

Samsung Galaxy S3. Things we hate. [Updated]

The colours. Blue isn’t actually blue and the “ceramic white” looks yellow next to a white GS2.
Button placement. I personally wish that the buttons where equal distance from the screen to the bottom of the phone. They are more towards the bottom and using the phone horizontally I find my fat hand pressing menu/back
Screenshot. Google added the perfectly acceptable and usable ”Power + Volume Down” button combination, Samsung went and removed it completely and now require me to drag the side of my hand across the screen. What you trying to do Samsung clean my fingerprint marks off?! (Update) It turns out that you can do a screenshot with power + home which is better but still requires two hands.
Screen. It has this curve, It reminds me of the Nokia Lumia 800 and it feels very strange when moving across the app draw.
New MHL Cable required. Finally MHL Cables have fallen to a price that is affordable at around £8. Samsung must not have been happy with this fact and go mess with a standard for what, more money?
Samsung logo on the back. Bit of an odd one I know I find that holding the phone my index finger is sitting on the “SAMSUNG” text on the back, Would be a non-issue apart from its raised. Hope its not made of nickel.
Software. Maybe this one we will leave for another day?

HTC One S Vs. Galaxy S II in pictures.

We have a quick comparison of the HTC One S Vs. Sasmsung Galaxy S II.

HTC One S on the left. GS2 on the right.

Our opinion?

Galaxy S II Look better whilst the HTC One S gives a more true colour, Mostly. However we felt that overall the pictures were good but just not as clear.

Stay tuned for a unboxing and review video at some point this week!

Google to sell subsidized “Nexus Tablet”

The rumors going around currently suggest that Google will be selling a tablet either by ASUS or Samsung under the Google or more probably Nexus brand. The plan is to sell cheap and recoup money via Google Play Store, Which is a great idea, but I feel it is flawed, but only time will tell if it is true. Look out for a price of around $200 in the coming weeks.

Samsung Galaxy Ace Plus now available in the UK

“We’ve had a positive response to the Galaxy Ace Plus since announcing it earlier this year and are looking forward to offering fans of the much loved Galaxy Ace an alternative device,” Simon Stanford, VP of Samsung’s UK and IRE Telecommunications and Networks Division told us without prompting.

“As with all smart phones in our Galaxy range, the Galaxy Ace Plus is stylishly designed and packed full of features making it a great mid-range phone for our customers.”

Available from today via Vodafone on contract at £26 per month.

[UK] – O2 say ICS for GS2 will be released

Vodafone, Everything Everywhere and Three, coming soon!
In the same day that HTC has unravelled its plans to bring Ice Cream Sandwich to a huge range of its old phones, we’ve managed to wangle a launch date for the Android 4.0 update to the Galaxy S2 from O2. Continue reading →

(Official) Galaxy S 2 receives Ice Cream Sandwich in Europe and Korea

It’s official — Right from the horse’s mouth, so to speak.Samsung Tomorrow released the information early this morning. The Samsung Galaxy S II is getting the Ice Cream Sandwich starting today in parts of Europe (Poland, Hungary, Sweden) and Korea. The UK date is March 19th.
Samsung are releasing the long awaited update OTA (Over The Air) . Samsung also states that the update will roll out in other markets gradually, and to expect ICS for the Galaxy Note, Galaxy S II LTE, and Tablets very “soon”. Continue reading →

What do you look for in your reviews?

What do you look for in your device reviews? Feel free to leave a comment or tell us on twitter @BeeAndroid so we can get it right with our up-coming Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 and Galaxy S II reviews!

Samsung Captivate lands in the UK as Giorgio Armani Galaxy S

Living in the UK and jealous of the looks of the Samsung Captivate over the standard Galaxy S? Now we can have one! Sadly, it is called the Giorgio Armani Samsung Galaxy S, but it appears to be a Samsung Galaxy S in a Captivate shell.